Thu, Aug 4th, 2022 - 10:12am
October 16, 2023 - 8:48pm | By James McCarty
BURNSVILLE, Minn. -- Following a game full of records and massive performances, MSUM's Ryan Bieberdorf and Josiah Behm have been named the NSIC's Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week.
Bieberdorf takes home the honor following an absolute monster performance for the Dragons in their 53-40 Homecoming win over Sioux Falls on Saturday. The senior, who returned to the field after a shoulder injury kept him on the sidelines for the previous two weeks, hauled in six catches for 137 yards and four touchdowns. His four receiving touchdowns tied the single-game MSUM school record. Bieberdorf nows sits alongside Dragon greats Damon Gibson (Oct. 24, 2016 v. UMC), Bruce Green (Nov. 4, 2006 v. UMC), Chad Davis (Nov. 15, 2003 v. WSC) and Rick Manke (Nov. 11, 1972 v. WSU) as the only student-athletes to catch four touchdowns in a single game in MSUM history. In the win, Bieberdorf eclipsed 2,000 career receiving yards as well. By game's end, he averaged 22.8 yards per reception for MSUM.
Behm earned the weekly Defensive Player of the Week award for the second time this season following an eight-tackle game against the Cougars on Saturday. Of those eight tackles, five were solo stops for the junior from Appleton, Wis. Behm also had perhaps the biggest play of the game for MSUM as he opened up the Dragon scoring with a 98-yard interception return for a touchdown. The junior picked off a pass as Sioux Falls was knocking on the door to go up by two scores and the return ties the MSUM record for longest interception return. Eric Schaumburg also returned an interception 98 yards on November 8, 2008 against Southwest Minnesota State.
The Dragons are on the road this weekend, meeting up with Southwest Minnesota State for a 1 p.m. game. Game coverage will be available on AM 1100 The Flag beginning with the pregame show at 12:30 p.m.
This artice was written by MSUM's Nolan Schmidt
